In Sports from United Press International

MILWAUKEE, July 9 (UPI) -- Jason Giambi, after putting on a memorable display in the opening round last year only to be eliminated in the next round, paced himself Monday and edged out Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa to capture Home Run Derby on All-Star Workout Day.

The New York Yankees slugger hit seven home runs in the final round and easily defeated Sosa, who had just one after blasting 17 through the first two rounds. Monday did mark the third straight year that Sosa, who missed his team's last three games, reached the finals.

The lefthanded-hitting Giambi took advantage of a stiff wind early and hit a total of 25 homers, by far the most in the competition. At Safeco Field in Seattle last season, Giambi crushed 14 home runs in the opening round, twice as many as his nearest competitor, but he managed just six in the second round and was bounced by Sosa.

Sosa did register the longest home runs, including the first ball ever hit outside Miller Park on the fly.

ROSEMONT, Ill., July 9 (UPI) -- The Players Association held off on a strike date at its meeting Monday, but the possibility that baseball will face a work stoppage sometime this season looms over Tuesday night's All-Star Game in Milwaukee.

Without a collective bargaining agreement since last November, owners have promised not to lock the players out through the World Series, but the union is fearful management will impose economic changes after the postseason. The union's most likely defense is a strike in August, repeating what happened in 1994.

However, the union's executive board did not set a strike date at Monday's meeting.

"We never discussed a strike date and that was never the purpose of this meeting," said union head Donald Fehr. "We basically gave the players a comprehensive study of where we're at."

In 1994, players convened in Pittsburgh the day before the All-Star Game and did not set a strike date but met later in the month and called for an August 12 walkout. The strike wiped out the World Series for the first time since 1904 and lasted 232 days.

The All-Star Game this time is at the hometown and headquarters of commissioner Bud Selig, who has led the owners in labor negotiations. Selig is concerned with the economic imbalance that exists between large market and small market teams and has proposed clubs increase the percentage of locally generated revenue they share from 20 percent to 50 percent. Selig also has proposed a 50 percent luxury tax on the portions of payrolls above $98 million.

. Fehr painted a pessimistic picture over the gap that exists between the parties regarding revenue sharing and a luxury tax and also said the owners want concessions in salary arbitration.

"They have been adamant with their 50 percent figure on the luxury tax and walked away from us in negotiations on that issue," Fehr said. "They also want to see the structure of arbitration changed in how it is instituted and to the years of service for when players should be eligible."

The New York Yankees are the primary target of the management plan to share half of each team's local revenue and impose a luxury tax on payrolls above $98 million. After the recent acquisitions of outfielder Raul Mondesi and pitcher Jeff Weaver, the Yankees have a payroll exceeding $130 million.

OAKLAND, Calif., July 9 (UPI) -- Forward Mike Dunleavy Jr., the third overall pick in the NBA draft, wasted little time by signing with the Golden State Warriors on Monday.

The signing of Dunleavy to a multi-year contract was announced by Warriors general manager Garry St. Jean and will allow him to play on the summer league team.

Under the bargaining agreement, rookie first-round contracts are for three years with a team option for a fourth season. The Warriors retain right of first refusal for a fifth season. As the third overall pick, Dunleavy will receive at least $8.24 million for the first three years.

Dunleavy will start immediately with the Warriors summer league team, which begins a stretch of six games in eight days on July 10 in Long Beach.

The 6-9 Dunleavy left Duke after his junior season to enter the draft and appears to be a good fit at small forward for the Warriors. The son of former NBA player and coach Mike Dunleavy, he averaged 17.3 points as a junior and connected on 38 percent of his 3-pointers.

Dunleavy's best moment in his college career came as a sophomore, when he nailed three 3-pointers in a 45-second span in the national championship game victory over Arizona. He also proved that he can play inside as he was second on the team in rebounding at 7.2 per game.

Also, The New York Knicks signed first-round pick Frank Williams on Monday, making him available to participate on the team's summer league team.

Williams was originally selected by the Denver Nuggets and sent to the Knicks along with star forward Antonio McDyess for Brazilian forward Nene Hilario, the seventh overall pick, center Marcus Camby and guard Mark Jackson on draft night.

The 6-3 Williams left Illinois after his junior season and will compete against Charlie Ward and Howard Eisley for time at point guard.

He rebounded from a slow start to finish with a solid junior season for Illinois, leading them to the "Sweet 16" for the second straight season. He averaged 16.2 points and 4.4 assists.

Williams was the sixth first-round pick to sign, joining Dunleavy, Amare Stoudemire and Casey Jacobsen of Phoenix, Caron Butler of Miami and Freddy Jones of Indiana.

All-Star game starting pitchers named

MILWAUKEE, July 9 (UPI) -- Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday was named the starting pitcher for the National League All-Star team for the third time in four years. This time, the honor was given by his own manager Bob Brenly.

American League manager Joe Torre of the New York Yankees gave the AL starting nod to Derek Lowe of the Boston Red Sox.

Lowe made the All-Star team as a closer two years ago and has excelled as a starter this season, tying for the league lead in wins with 11, and leading the league with a 2.18 ERA.

Schilling was named as the starter for last year's All-Star Game, but had problems loosening up before the game and was replaced by Arizona teammate Randy Johnson. Schilling, who is 13-3 with a 3.22 ERA, started the All-Star Game in 1999 as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.

All-Star MVP Award to be named after Ted

MILWAUKEE, July 9 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball will honor Hall of Famer Ted Williams, who died last Friday at age 83, by naming the All-Star MVP Award after him, it was announced Monday.

The first recipient of the Ted Williams Award will be selected after Tuesday night's game at Miller Park in Milwaukee, according to MLB spokesman Matt Gould.

Baseball will also pay tribute to Williams during the game with a special ceremony. The last player to hit .400 in a season holds all-time All-Star records for RBIs (12) and walks (11), and single-game All-Star records for hits (4) and home runs (2).

In 18 All-Star appearances, he hit .304 with four home runs. He thrilled fans with many memorable All-Star moments, but it was a non-playing Midsummer Classic appearance that brought him back to the game.

After ending his military service in 1953, Williams did not plan to return to baseball. But he was asked to throw out the first pitch at that year's All-Star Game at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, and the thunderous ovation he received convinced him to change his mind.

An official All-Star Game MVP was not selected until 1962, two seasons after Williams retired. He likely would have earned the honor in 1941, when his two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off the Cubs' Claude Passeau propelled the American League to a 7-5 victory.

Defending champ Godwin ousted at Newport

NEWPORT, R.I., July 9 (UPI) -- Defending champion Neville Godwin had a short stay at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships after a first round loss Monday to American Jeff Morrison.

Morrison, who made a run to the third round at Wimbledon and is seeded fourth this week, beat Godwin, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7). Morrison is playing at Newport for the second time in his career.

No. 5 Alexander Popp of Germany made an impressive debut at Newport with a solid 6-2, 6-2 win against countryman Alex Pretzsch, who lost in the first round here for the third time (1999, 2000).

One minor surprise of the day was Robby Ginepri's 6-4, 6-4 triumph over sixth seeded Cecil Mamiit in a matchup of Americans. Ginepri also made his first appearance at Newport. Ginepri won the Rocky Mount, North Carolina challenger event in May.

Another American to advance Monday was Taylor Dent who beat Croatian wild card Mario Ancic, 6-3, 6-4. Dent also got the best of Ancic on grass this year at Surbiton, England.

The Shock also got a first-round pick in the 2003 draft and sent a second-round pick to the Miracle in the deal.

Powell averaged 5.9 points, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 15 games, including one start, with Orlando. Last year, she averaged 11.2 points, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per contest.

Detroit now has two first-round picks in the 2003 draft.

Palmer, a WNBA All-Star in 2000, started in all 16 games this season for the Shock, averaging 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. She recorded a career-high 15 rebounds in a game on June 9 against New York.

Laimbeer moved from the front office to the bench after Greg Williams was fired following an 0-10 start. The team is just 1-5 under his leadership.

Palmer, a 6'2" forward, originally selected by the Utah Starzz in 1997 in the WNBA Elite Draft, and played two-and-a-half seasons with that franchise. The University of Virginia graduate was then traded to the Detroit Shock on July 29, 1999. She represented Detroit in the 2000 WNBA All-Star Game and was named to the 1997 All-WNBA Second Team.

Diaz-Oliva wins at Palermo International

PALERMO, Italy, July 9 (UPI) -- No. 6 MarianaDiaz-Oliva of Argentina advanced while fourth seeded Greta Arn made an early exit in a light opening day in tennis matches Monday at the Palermo International.

Much of the main draw was completed with qualifying round matches, leading the organizers to schedule just four matches to count on the board.

Mandula, who was ousted in the first round at Wimbledon by Francesca Schiavone, got past Czech Alena Vascova, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. The 24-year-old Mandula is seeking her first career title. She reached the semifinals at another claycourt tournament in June, when she lost to Barbara Schett.

Cervanova also is seeking her first title and cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic. The 22-year-old Cervanova has not advanced past the quarterfinals this season.

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